So, Stone out till 2015, Barkley not ready to start training just yet, Mirallas out for a number of weeks, Howard flapping goals in, our central defence pairing acting like the Chuckle Brothers without the timing, Coleman and McCarthy doubtful for the next game at least, Lukaku looking more like a £2.8m player than a £28m one, Osman and Pienaar looking like a shadow of their former selves, Everton outside the relegation zone by just two points.
Awesome.
So, with all that going on I’ve been looking at our next 5 games that should – SHOULD – be winnable on each occasion. Yes, yes, I know that we’re Everton but all we need is for a couple of wins to settle the confidence and nerves and things can turn around very quickly indeed.
And you know what – looking at our next few games I’m now feeling a little better…
Game 1: Aston Villa (h) – Saturday 18th October
Well this could be a nervy one. Aston Villa, many people’s tips to go down, have surprised everyone by winning games (without many shots admittedly) and having a strong defence including our old friend Philippe Senderos, who we all thought had died I’m guessing. Even Alain Hutton is getting a game. They have lost their last three games but these were against top sides that are challenging for the league as opposed to weaker teams they have beaten. Such as Liverpool. Sorry. Cheap shot.
Villa have played three away games this season though and won two of them with solid performances and sneaky 1-0 wins v Liverpool and Stoke, who were fancied at the start of the season. They also lost 3-0 to Chelsea, but after our own 6-3 home defeat we’ll ignore that.
Our last 5 games against Villa at home have seen us avoid defeat, with a 2-1 win last season seeing us come from one down with goals from Naismith and Mirallas (5 minutes from time). The previous four meetings had seen one win for the Toffees and three draws, including a great fight-back by Everton to draw 3-3 in early 2013.
I genuinely think we’ll sneak this, maybe 2-1 again, but wouldn’t be surprised if Villa snatched a draw. Which would be annoying. We need the three points!
Game 2: Burnley (a) – Sunday 26th October
Coming off an away game in the Europa League the previous Thursday in Lille it’s a relief that this away game comes as something of a local (well, NW) derby.
We don’t have much to go on when it comes to league matches against Burnley as there has only been two games since I was born. The home game in 2010 was won easily 2-0, but the away match in August 2009 was lost 1-0 against a very tough, defensive side. We were awful though in that match unfortunately.
Burley 2014 are going to struggle massively. They seem to have a reasonably solid defence but can’t score goals at all. Jutzvof… whatever his name that used to play for us hasn’t score in the PL for them yet. Get your money on him as an anytime scorer…
Burnley have played three games at home and not won any of them (uh-oh), drawing 0-0 with Manchester United and Sunderland, and losing 3-1 to Chelsea. Again, that’s not a disgrace.
Anyway, if we stay solid ourselves we should win this game fairly easily, and let’s face it – if we want to climb the league and finish in the top 6-8 at least we need to be dispatching teams like this without issue.
Game 3: Swansea (h) – Saturday 1st November
Ah, good old Swansea. Thank goodness for them. Yes, we lost 3-0 to them in the league cup, but we rolled over with a weakened side. Yes, this time we’ll probably have a weakened side due to our injuries, but Swansea haven’t won against us in the league. Ever. I’m confident that will continue and that we’ll have far too much for them.
They have played three away games this campaign, with a win (Manchester United on the opening day), draw (0-0 draw v Sunderland last time out) and a defeat (4-2 away to Chelsea – how many games have Chelsea played?!?).
Our last 3 home games against them have brought two wins and a draw, with last season finishing 3-2 to Everton with goals from Baines (pen), Lukaku and Barkley, with the Swans pulling one back in the 90th minute to make a nervy finale.
I feel this is a good game to have at this time and would expect a basic 2-0 win, with Lukaku causing a bit of mayhem. At last.
Game 4: Sunderland (away) – Sunday 9th November
Trickiest game of this run for me, purely because you never know which Sunderland will turn up: the juggernaut of a winning machine from the end of last season, or the terrible squad of early 2014.
In the last 5 years we’ve only won once, but 3 of the matches have been draws with one defeat. Last year we didn’t even have to score the goal, with Wes Brown scuttling the ball in at the near post. Unfortunately gone are the days of being sure of rolling them over (such as the 7-1 victory at home in 2007, although we normally do win the home matches…).
This match will come on the Sunday following a Europa League match against Lille at home, which could leave the squad pretty thin/knackered. Especially as Bobby M seems to be prioritizing the Europa League (rightly for me) alongside the league campaign.
Sunderland have played 4 home games this season and are unbeaten so far although three of these matches have been draws. Last time round they beat Stoke 3-1, with previous draws against Swansea, Manchester United and Spurs which is a reasonably good record for them.
This will a tight affair if, by then, we haven’t pulled our finger out and started playing well again. It will either be a tight game nicked by Everton or a comprehensive home win for Sunderland and that scaghead Stephen Fletcher.
Game 5: West Ham (home) – Saturday 22nd November
This game follows the international break where we’ll no doubt be praying that a) all our players come back injury-free and b) that Barkley is back and feeling fit by then.
Good old West Ham – like Swansea we normally turn them over although recently they have had some good performances against Liverpool and QPR (although, well, you know…) and have started trying to play football under Sam “failed bidder on Storage Hunters” Allardyce.
Our last 5 games at home against the ‘Ammers have seen 3 wins and two 2-2 draws, with last season seeing us having to wait until the 81st minute before Lukaku powered in the winning goal to go along with the two he scored against them in the away fixture to win it.
West Ham have played three games away from home, again winning one (Palace in their first away game), drawing one (Hull City) and lost one (2-1 against Manchester United last time out).
This could again be a nervy encounter but I would again expect us to get over the line. Probably from an underserved penalty or a blatant offside goal that will get the East Landoners fuming on their way out of the ground. Laverly!